To Nicole Boardman (Year 13) who achieved a Distinction in her Grade 7 Singing exam – well done, Nicole!

What do you do all day? Teach Brass instruments to individuals, small groups and whole classes in some primary schools! I spend the rest of the time sat in traffic... What instruments do you play? Tenor Horn – the best instrument in the world. If anyone tells you any different then they're just jealous! When did you first start learning music? I started playing trumpet aged 7 after I drove my parents mad buzzing into the ends of those shower things that fit over taps! What’s so great about your instrument? It can lead to some amazing musical experiences all over the world and meeting some brilliant people along the way! What music do you like to listen to? I like anything really, depends on my mood, but I do love a good film score! Who is your favourite composer? Hector Berlioz (see Composer of the Moment below!) What is your favourite chord? Nothing like a good dominant 7th! Favourite Ben and Jerry's flavour? Not too bothered about ice cream, I'll eat any. But if we're talking crisps...it has to be Lime and Coriander Poppadum Crisps... X Factor or Strictly? Gone off X Factor so I suppose Strictly! McDonalds or KFC? McDonald's chips and coffee but KFC Chicken! Favourite holiday destination? Somewhere Spanish with a beach and a pool! If you could choose someone to play you in a film who would it be? Me, nobody can do Laura Lea like Laura Lea! What would you have done if you hadn't been a music teacher? I really like science and forensics. I used to want to be a doctor but I don't like the look of broken bones! Or something completely different like a lifeguard! Any advice for students who would like to progress in music? Keep practising and try and listen to as much music as you can. Take advantage of all the opportunities that come your way, you never know where they may lead!

Welcome to the second edition of our Music Department newsletter! This half-term we are focussing on the great work Year 9 have been doing on Musical Theatre, and looking back at our recent Prize Giving, where the choirs and orchestra performed. Miss Lea will be telling us a bit more about herself, and don’t forget Mrs Coleman’s quiz of course!

Miss Bell (Subject Leader – Music)

focus on...

Miss Lea Brass Tutor

MEG’S MIRTH! What do you get if you drop a piano down a mine shaft?... A flat minor!

This half-term, we are focussing on the superb work Year 9 have been doing on Musical Theatre. The girls began by studying such hit musicals as Alain Boublil’s moving Les Miserables, Andrew Lloyd-Webber’s triumphant Jesus Christ, Superstar, and Stephen Schwartz’s more recent West End and Broadway hit Wicked, the prequel to The Wizard of Oz. they then went on to perform famous songs from these musicals in groups, using various instruments, and for their final assessment had the option of writing their own musical theatre song. Claire Wood (9N) and Louise Graham (9O) chose to do just that! In fact, they were so keen that they actually wrote their song together, outside of school, in just one day! They then used their remaining lesson time to practise and add the finishing touches before performing to the class. Happily, this premiere performance was recorded, and will be available to listen to soon. And, you’ll be pleased to know, the girls have gone on to write more songs together – watch this space…!

The school’s annual Prize Giving took place on Friday 18th November, with performances from the choirs and orchestra. The choir sang Stand by Me (featuring Mr Steels on guitar and Mrs Coleman on bass!) and Bring Him Home from Moulin Rouge. The chamber choir also gave beautiful performances of Labi Siffre’s inspirational Something Inside So Strong and John Rutter’s A Gaelic Blessing.

Mrs Coleman directs the choir

More Prize Giving snaps!

The orchestra also treated us to music from The Lord of the Rings by Howard Shore. A very big “Well done!" to all the girls who took part, and for all their hard work this term. The orchestra rehearses on Tuesdays after school, the choir on Wednesdays, and the chamber choir at lunch time on Thursdays.

Miss Bell conducting the orchestra with gusto!

Academy Carol Service will be held at Liverpool Anglican Cathedral

on Wednesday 14th December at 1:30pm. Come along, and join in with the singing! We’d love to see you there.

DID YOU KNOW? A young Mozart heard Allegri’s 12-minute choral masterpiece, Miserere mei, just once and went home

and wrote the music out exactly. The work is in 6 parts!

Would you like to win a Sweetie-treat?? Have a go at this Musical Quiz No.2!

Congratulations to our first winner, Heather Lawton (8H) – see Mrs Coleman for your prize!

1. What is the smallest orchestral string instrument?

2. What musical is the song ‘Bring him home’ from?

3. ‘What makes you beautiful’ was the debut single for which group?

4. What is a ‘Suite’ in musical terms?

a. A piece that makes you want to sit down

b. A collection of dances

c. A collection of musical treats

5. Which of the following is not a musical Italian term to do with speed?

a. Largo

b. Allegro

c. Ferrari

6. Who is Mrs. Coleman’s favourite singer?

7. What music enrichment activity takes place on Wednesdays after school?

8. What is the name for this symbol?

9. What musical instrument does a flautist play?

10. Who is the lead singer of Coldplay?

Answers on a piece of paper to Mrs. Coleman by January 20th please.

DON’T FORGET! You can practise keyboards and use Sibelius at lunchtimes from 12:30 –

please ask Miss Bell or Mrs Coleman!

Useful Links

Piano – iPhone app to learn piano chords http://www.apple.com/webapps/utilities/piano.html Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjri6MyXKRI Vivaldi’s Four Seasons (Spring) – an example of programme music, this concerto is supposed to represent images of spring, in particular birds singing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFHPRi0ZeXE

Composer of the moment!

Name: Hector Berlioz Dates: 1803-1869

Well-known pieces: Symphonie Fantastique (see useful links), Les Troyens (‘The Trojans’, an opera), Requiem Info: Berlioz was a French composer, who began his musical studies by learning the guitar. Later, he went to the prestigious

Paris Conservatoire, where he developed his unique composing style. His first major success was the Symphonie fantastique in 1830, one of the first examples of programme music (music which describes something or tells a story). He was also known as a brilliant conductor with an unbeatable knowledge of the orchestra, and was one of the first composers to introduce choirs and the newly invented saxophone into the symphony orchestra. Because of his unusual and innovative style, he was considered something of an eccentric by his peers. However, now he is recognised as a truly great composer, and his style greatly influenced last half-term’s Composer of the Moment, Sir Edward Elgar.

Fun fact: Berlioz composed the music for Hungary’s National Anthem!

The Pulse December 2011

Oct 2011 Answers 1. Justin Bieber 2. 576 (36 x 16 keyboards) 3. Violin 4. Interrobang – it’s a

punctuation sign that looks

like this: 5. Treble clef 6. Beethoven 7. Jason (Orange from Take

That) 8. Brass 9. Moulin Rouge 10. J.S. Bach

Tie-breaker: We’re delighted to say there were a whopping 99 pupils at the first Choir rehearsal this term!